Toyota has long been one of the leading carmakers in the world of green cars. The first manufacturer to produce a full production hybrid, in the form of the iconic Prius, Toyota has also made significant advancements in the development of electric, hydrogen and alternative fuel vehicles.
As the world's largest passenger car producer, Toyota continues to lead the field in research and testing a number of new technology vehicles.
TheGreenCarWebsite.co.uk spoke to Michael Valvo, UK Press Relations Manager for Toyota to find out what the Japanese carmaker has planned next and its vision for the future world of transportation.
Q: Toyota won TheGreenCarWebsite.co.uk's 'Green Car Manufacturer' award in 2008 as well as a host of others across the industry. What is it that makes Toyota, a leader in the field of green car technology?
A: Our philosophy is simple: whether you choose petrol, diesel or hybrid, each new vehicle should squeeze the best possible performance out of the least possible fuel.
In pursuit of the ultimate eco-car, we are developing a range of clean and green technologies, believing that different vehicle types with different energy sources will have to co-exist over the longer-term.
For the next few decades, petrol and diesel will continue to be the mainstream automotive fuels. Although we are focused on reducing the consumption of these fuels by pursuing technological innovation in our vehicles, we believe that, in the future, different vehicle types with different energy sources will have to co-exist.
For information, visit: http://www.toyota.eu/Environment/Pages/ultimate_eco-car.aspx
Q: Being the biggest carmaker in the world and trying to lead in green innovations is surely a big challenge. How does Toyota look to ensure that they consider the full environmental impact of its operations?
A: To achieve lower emissions and greener vehicles on the way towards the ultimate eco-car, it is essential to measure the impact that our vehicles have on the environment throughout our entire operations.
The recently launched new Prius is an example of how Toyota looks at the environmental impact from production, through use, to disposal.
Over its whole lifecycle, from production to disposal, a Prius has a lower impact on the environment than a conventional vehicle. The majority (~70 per cent) of the CO2 emissions produced during a cars dust-to-dust lifecycle come from the fuel it uses when it is driven. This means that the small amount of extra emissions produced when manufacturing a hybrid vehicle are quickly compensated for by the lower energy use of the vehicle itself.
Over its lifetime, a Prius emits 37 per cent less CO2 than a similarly sized, UK-built petrol vehicle (with a conventional 2-litre engine) and 47 per cent less NOx than a diesel vehicle.
The short video [see link] explains the environmental impact of Prius over its entire lifecycle. It also includes information about the eco-plant that manufactures the car, the materials used in our vehicles and the recycling of the battery:
http://blog.toyota.co.uk/prius-life-cycle-video
Q: The Prius has to be Toyota's greatest green triumph yet. When can we hope to see a plug-in version in the UK?
A: Toyota is unveiling a new Prius Plug-in Hybrid Concept at the Frankfurt motor show, signalling further progress towards its ambition of building the ultimate eco-car.
Presentation of the new concept comes ahead of a test programme that will see more than 500 cars leased to customers worldwide, including the UK, for real-world evaluation of performance and monitoring of driver attitudes and experiences. This will commence from early 2010.
Using lithium-ion batteries, the Prius Plug-in Hybrid provides clean, fuel-efficient electric-powered running in urban areas for longer distances and at higher speeds than the conventional, third generation full hybrid Prius. Over longer distances, or when the limit of battery power is reached, the system automatically shifts to conventional petrol power. Advanced battery technology allows for full recharging in around an hour and a half and the extended EV capability brings CO2 emissions down to around 60g/km.
Q: Toyota focuses on hybrids with a few electric cars in the pipeline. But what about hydrogen fuel cells? Do you think it is right that the US and many European governments have switched funding focus onto electric cars over hydrogen?
A: Toyota's policy is to invest in R&D across a wide front of areas; hybrid, EVs, fuel cell, but also biofuels and making petrol and diesel more efficient.
Hybrid is a core technology for the future at Toyota. It can be combined with petrol, diesel or any other alternative fuel and fuel cell technology. The evolution of hybrid technology can be utilised for hydrogen fuel cell hybrid vehicles.
Toyota has been working on fuel cells for almost 20 years and the technology is largely road ready, but the cost is very high (approx £6,000 per month to lease) and there is very limited infrastructure support. The high cost is linked to volume: if we build more cars the cost will come down. But until there is an infrastructure no one will buy cars, etc. Around the world we and other manufacturers are talking with Governments and energy industries on how we move forward on hydrogen infrastructure. The number of fuel cell vehicles will be gradually growing, triggered by such a limited scale introduction as Toyota has done since December 2002.
Hydrogen is one of the most promising energy carriers because it can be obtained from various sources and is able to greatly reduce CO2 emissions from cars. Until now, the penetration of hydrogen as a fuel for fuel cell cars still needs many challenges to overcome (manufacturing, transportation, storage technology, infrastructure and so on). So it will take some time for the hydrogen society to arrive.
Toyota also has a long experience in developing EVs. However, EVs have so far failed to gain wide support among customers due to issues such as limited cruising range, high (battery) cost and long charging times. Therefore we believe that electric vehicles are best suited as short-trips urban commuter vehicles. We are accelerating R&D efforts (in particular regarding battery technology) with the aim to bring an electric vehicle to mass market by 2012.
We intend to start leasing our PHVs (Plug-in Hybrid Vehicle) with Lithium-ion batteries to fleet customers by early next year.
We are working towards commercialisation of PHV in the future, but no date has been fixed yet.
Q: There are many green concept vehicles in the pipeline for Toyota, but what is the next big development?
A: Toyota is confident that hybrid technology holds the key to the automobile's future. At the same time, though, we are aware that no one type of vehicle can meet all societies' needs. That's why we are pushing ahead with research on a range of vehicle propulsion technologies.
• Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) is the cleanest-burning fossil fuel. Toyota offers several CNG-powered vehicles.
• Diesel engines are more energy-efficient than petrol engines, have therefore lower fuel consumption and hence emit less CO2 per km. Toyota's common rail diesel engines (D-4D) are among the most fuel-efficient on the market today. The Toyota D-CAT (Diesel Clean Advanced Technology) system was the first diesel after-treatment system on the market, which simultaneously reduces nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particulate matter (PM).
• With further assimilation of the fuel cell vehicle technology comes the fusing of the Toyota Fuel Cell stack and the hybrid technology, creating the Toyota Fuel Cell Hybrid Vehicle (FCHV). This truly is the way forward towards the ultimate eco-car. The FCHV achieves high vehicle efficiency, while offering a smooth and quiet drive.
• Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) offers environmental benefits very similar to those of CNG. Toyota's LPG-powered trucks offer an alternative to diesel.
Q: What can we expect from Toyota at the Frankfurt Motor Show this year?
A: The Toyota Auris HSD Full Hybrid Concept will take centre stage on the Toyota stand at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor show.
The concept represents a milestone in Toyota's strategy: introducing Toyota's full hybrid technology to a mainstream model, and the first step in the deployment of Hybrid Synergy Drive across the company's model range.
The new Prius Plug-in Hybrid Concept will also make its world premiere in Frankfurt. Prius Plug-in Hybrid expands the capabilities of Toyota's full hybrid technology, enabling pure electric operation for short-range day-to-day transportation. In early 2010, an extensive field trial in Europe will see over 150 units being leased to selected fleet customers.
Lexus will also unveil a new hybrid at Frankfurt with the full hybrid LF-Ch premium concept. Reinforcing Lexus' position as the only manufacturer to offer a range of hybrid vehicles, the LF-Ch concept will make its world premiere.
LF-Ch combines stylish design and full hybrid technology in a practical 5-door compact package to fulfil the needs of the most demanding premium compact segment customers.
Benefiting from an electric-only driving capability, a key feature of Lexus Hybrid Drive, LF-Ch will allow for virtually silent urban driving with zero emissions.
Q: In opting to produce the iQ with a petrol engine, Toyota missed out on the headline grabbing 'lowest CO2 emitting car' title. What made Toyota choose a petrol engine over diesel one and are there any plans to introduce a diesel option?
A: When developing the iQ, the primary target for this car was not to make it the CO2 champion – this is rather the Prius – the idea was more to build a car, that meets today's urban challenges and is suitable for city life. It should be agile, easy to park, have a low consumption / CO2 emission and be fun to drive.
Furthermore the iQ's 1.0-litre emits just 99g/km and is our feature model for the range, whereas some of our competitors present some their low-emission models as a niche in their line-up. These competitor diesel models emit higher values of NOx and Particulate Matters (particles that can adversely effect human health, damage materials and cause smog) than Toyota's iQ petrol engine.
Q: The new Auris hybrid will feature the technology used in the Prius, but what can we expect in terms of CO2 emission ratings?
A: The exact details and numbers will be revealed closer to launch of the car. However, expect sub-100g/km CO2 emissions, class leading fuel consumption and 0-62mph acceleration in around 10 seconds.
Production of Auris hybrid will commence in mid-2010 at our manufacturing plant in Burnaston, Derbyshire and will be the UK's first mass-market produced hybrid car.
Q: Which model can we expect next to get the hybrid makeover?
A: Toyota has committed to developing hybrid systems as a core technology, ensuring a wider choice of hybrid models to suit the needs of every customer. By the early 2010s, we plan to offer 10 different hybrid models. By early 2020s, we aim to offer a hybrid version across our entire model line-up range.
Unfortunately I cannot share with you exactly when we will introduce hybrid to our other models but will offer customers a variety of choices in the type of hybrid car they can have.
Q: What do you say to those who have accused Toyota of lagging behind carmakers like Nissan and Mitsubishi in the race to develop full electric and plug-in hybrid technology?
A: Toyota has a long experience in developing EVs. However, EVs have so far failed to gain wide support among customers due to issues such as limited cruising range, high (battery) cost and long charging times.
Therefore we believe that electric vehicles are best suited as short-trips urban commuter vehicles. We are accelerating R&D efforts (in particular regarding battery technology) with the aim to bring an electric vehicle to mass market by 2012.
We intend to start leasing our PHVs (Plug-in Hybrid Vehicle) with Lithium-ion batteries to fleet customers early next year.
We are working towards commercialisation of PHV in the future, but no date has been fixed yet.
Q: What about GM's range-extended technology? Is this a form of hybridisation which Toyota will explore as well?
A: Toyota's Plug-in Hybrid Vehicle uses our full hybrid technology but with the added benefit that its battery can be recharged using a standard electrical plug. Toyota’s PHV is "the best of both worlds": for short distances, it can be driven as an electric vehicle, resulting in a silent, zero CO2 emissions drive. For longer distances, the PHV works as a conventional hybrid vehicle, providing all the benefits of hybrid technology, including low emissions and fuel consumption, and excellent driving performance.
Toyota expects the PHV to bring unsurpassed fuel efficiency and therefore record low emissions – as compared to any other mass-market vehicle on roads today.
With a PHV you won't have the fear of being stranded with a flat battery back as you have the full hybrid system to back you up – it is basically an electric car without the worry.
0 comentários:
Enviar um comentário